I think nowadays there's also the option to get money (value of the bull) instead of the animal. But de facto the winner often DOES take the bull because many "Schwinger"s do farming (at least besides their normal daytime job).

There is a semi-active group in the Seattle area. The trouble is, they have no interest in actually working with anybody outside their arena.

When I contacted them they asked me if I was Swiss. Which I am not, not even close. That was an issue since I wouldn't be able to be associated with the Swiss Club.

When I asked the guy I was speaking with if they would be interested in putting a clinic on, even after explaning that I am sensative to the plight of keeping ethnic and cultural context within ethnic wrestling styles. That I would want the clinic to include a heavy does of the cultural context, they point blank said they are not. That in effect they want to breed their own wrestlers totally from their own ranks.

Truth be told this policy is not helping them out at all. Guys move on, and the depth of their players is down to almost nothing.

Too bad it would be fun and I have a whole bunch of guys to their gigs... which currently it doesn't seem they have enough for.

Too bad, oh well the African guys in the area are interested, as are the sumo, etc. etc.

It's always kind of a shame when this sort of thing gets "too exclusive", but I guess it's their club and they set the rules. OTOH there's nothing to stop anyone else from setting up an unrelated "Traditional Freestyle Belt/Trouser Wrestling League" or whatever; it looks like a pretty straightforward style that a bunch of sumotori/judoka/etc. would have no trouble figuring out for themselves.